Immerse Day 13 Observations

Text: 2 Corinthians

  • Overview: We see from the Immerse overview, that the Corinthians had at least 2 other letters from Paul (which are not included in Canon), and that there are no copies of.
  • Paul addresses the letter to the people in Corinth, and to all believers in the region of Greece.
  • He begins by positioning God as the great bringer of comfort to his people. And this comfort enables believers to comfort others out of this divine source of comfort.
  • This encouragement is directly applied to the context of suffering. The reality of sharing in suffering offers the promise of being able to share in the comfort that God freely offers.
  • Paul addresses the adversity that he has faced, and that the ministry offered by him and his colleagues exists by God’s grace alone. and not of their own effort or ingenuity.
  • He acknowledges his travel plans had changed. He explains that the plan was deliberate and shouldn’t be interpreted that Paul (nor his God) are unreliable.
    • He affirms that Jesus is indeed reliable, and that Christians (being under God or representing God), are likewise reliable. He also points out that the Holy Spirit’s presence in the life of believers is a further evidence of the reliability of God. He then explains he didn’t return to them earlier because if he had, he would have had to arrive with a stern rebuke of them for their ungodly behavior.He calls out the unnamed man who had been sowing discord amongst them, and instructed the people that it was time to forgive the man. #gracebomb
  • Paul explained his ministry as an offering that pleases the Lord.
    • The Corinthians, among the beneficiaries of this ministry, were themselves an encouragement to Paul and his colleagues, that their lives were a testimony written on their hearts, written by the Holy Spirit, and in view to the entire world.Paul makes a big deal out of the Holy Spirit, the facilitator of this new covenant, or the new way for man to relate with God.
      • Explaining that the old way (the Law) brought condemnation, but this new way makes it possible to “be right” with God.
      • This new way was the source of confidence for this missionary team who delivered it.
      • This empowered them to boldly bring this new way wherever the old way was still being taught or promoted.
      • Not only does the new way lift the veil of understanding to those who received it, but it (and really, him, the Holy Spirit) transforms its (his) people to more readily reflect (glorify) Jesus.
perhaps the worst gif to illustrate an otherwise great truth
  • Because Paul and all Christians enjoy living in this new way, there is no need to resort to old tactics of religious control, chicanery, or manipulation.
    • They preach the Gospel openly and plainly.
    • Only those who fail to receive it are being blinded or bound by Satan
    • Christians preach Jesus, never misdirecting people back to themselves.
      • Consequently, Paul explains, Christians are persecuted, and otherwise oppressed, but not overcome by the world and dark spiritual forces.
      • This suffering becomes a witness to the world of the truth of Jesus.
      • This witness is power-filled to compel them to continue to share him with others.
      • This perseverance brought more suffering, which brought more glory to Jesus.
      • To persevere, the Christian looks not at circumstance nor trial, but with an eye toward eternity and the future hope.
        • The future hope is in a bodily resurrection and eternal experience in the presence of God himself.
        • The current presence of God’s Holy Spirit is evidence of the reliability of that promise.
      • This perspective offers some provocative paradigms:
        • That as long as we are alive in these bodies, we are not yet at home with the Lord.
        • Life is lived by believing, rather than by seeing (so, rather than “seeing is believing,” life be “believing is seeing.”)
        • So, whether living in these bodies, or eternally in his presence, the goal is to please God, knowing that we all will one day have to give an account for all things said and done in life.
      • Part of this effort was seen in their determination to persuade as many people to believe as they could.
      • They were were controlled by the love of Christ.
        • They saw themselves as wholly purchased by the sacrifice of Christ…that because he died for all, they died completely for his will and work.
      • This new perspective transforms how they look at other people, too.
        • When a person becomes a Christian, they are a new creation
        • the old life has passed away, and a new life has begun.
        • This new life is truly a gift from God.
        • So God has assigned this task of reconciling other people to Jesus, giving the world the message of reconciliation in the person of Jesus.
          • Paul: “We are Christ’s ambassadors.” God makes his appeal to the world through us (all Christians, not just Paul and his team).
          • As such, we plead with people to accept the gift of Jesus, and not ignore it (him).
          • Today is the day of salvation. Now is the time of salvation.
          • Christians model authenticity and integrity, faithfully preaching God’s message of Jesus.
          • God’s power worked mightily in them.
          • Despite opposition and persecution, they are honest.
          • They are ignored, or when not ignored, beaten. They remain joyful despite adversity. They continued serving, even though in poverty. They were spiritually rich and, despite having nothing, lacked for nothing.
        • They love the Corinthians and appeal for that love to be reciprocated.
Talking to you, Corinth
  • Paul exhorted the Christians there not to “team up” with nonbelievers. This is commonly understood best in the context of marriage (but isn’t exclusive to this context)
  • Paul explains that he wrote his ‘harsh letter’ (of which no known copy exists), to bring the Corinthians to a place of godly repentance (which it appears it did, which pleased Paul because it allowed for them to reconcile and advance their relationship positively and productively).
  • Paul then moved on to discuss giving, using the Macedonians as a foil (of sorts) for explaining the principles he was conveying.
    • generosity is a prevailing value.freely give, rather than giving out of coercion or compulsion.excel in giving.finish what was started. Have good follow-through.Consistency and eagerness are hallmark traits in proper giving.give out of what you have, not out of what you don’t have.give toward an aim of equality, not of self-inflicted poverty that enriches the recipients.Model generosity so reciprocity can be facilitated.
    • Paul and his friends worked hard to protect against attacks on their integrity.They traveled together and instilled accountability.
    • Generosity in giving generally precedes generosity in “harvest.”
    • understated points: God loves a cheerful giver. God will meet all your needs. Miserly giving reflects self-sufficiency and weak faith. Generous giving enables you to share in the blessing of others. Generosity glorifies God to unbelievers.
  • Paul addresses spiritual warfare, explaining that warfare for Christians is different than warfare (or conflict) for the unbeliever.
    • We don’t fight with the conventional tactics of the carnal mind and worldly thinker.
    • He “connects the dots” that this aplomb in spiritual tactics evidences the Christian’s authority that exists to build up believers, not tear them down.
  • Paul acknowledges that his letters are harsh, but that he is often much more gentle in person, because of his gentle heart toward people (and wanting to build them up).
  • He reaffirms his credibility with the Corinthians and his consistency amongst them.
  • He expresses concern that the Corinthians will be led astray and be deceived.
    • He explains his concern is rooted that even Satan presents himself as an angel of light, so that it shouldn’t be missed that many other people with evil intents will present themselves as ‘do-gooders.’
  • Paul explains his credentials as one who experienced unmatched suffering for the Gospel.
    • In addition to all the ways in which he suffered, he faithfully cared for the people he was appointed to shepherd.
    • He experienced unparalleled spiritual visions (which he did not detail here)
    • Yet, his bragging is all in the primacy of Jesus.
    • In fact, he is led to only boast of his own weaknesses, how God demonstrated the sufficiency of his grace in the context of his suffering from a persistent source of adversity (which has been much discussed, but remains only speculated upon).
    • understated points: God’s grace is all I need. when I am weak, then I am strong.
  • He tells them he will return to them, but doesn’t want to have to depend on them.
  • He worries that they won’t listen to him, and that they will persist in their sin, be unrepentant, and continue to indulge in sexual sin and immorality.
  • He exhorts them to examine their faith to determine if it is indeed genuine.
  • He tells them he cannot compromise truth, and he prays they will mature in their faith.
  • He exhorts them to be joyful, to mature, to encourage one another, to love one another, living in harmony and peace.

Immerse Day 12 Observations

Text: 1 Corinthians 8:1 – 16:24

  • Paul addresses the congregation on the topic of marriage, because they were apparently confused about whether or not it was sinful to be married. H assured them it was not sinful for virgins to marry.
    • He was clear that he was not commanding them one way or another (since he had not received a clear command from the Lord to do so), so he was only offering advice that they could follow or decline.
    • He acknowledged that married couples would face challenge. Scholars don’t have agreement on what this means…could be normal timeless challenges facing all couples, could be Corinth-specific challenges, or it the challenges could be related to the expectation of Christ’s impending return.
    • Because of these problems, he wasn’t recommending marriage, but he wasn’t forbidding it.
    • His priority for Christians is that they will prioritize serving the Lord. If marriage is a distraction to this priority, singleness is preferred. However, if singleness is a distraction to the priority of Jesus, marriage is preferable.
    • Those who are married should not divorce (using this priority as the rationale to do so).
  • Next, he addresses the issue of eating food sacrificed to idols.
    • the first points made on the subject are bigger than the subject itself:
      • While knowledge is important, it is love that strengthens the church.
      • anyone who claims to know everything, actually knows very little.
      • the person who loves God is someone who God recognizes.
    • the teachings on eating idol-sacrificed food, then, are to be understood within this love/knowledge paradigm.
      • idols are not really gods.
      • There is only one God.
      • But…not all believers (?) know this. Some translations say “all people,” while others make the reference to believers or Christians. Regardless the obligation to the mature of knowledgeable Christian who knows that idols are not gods, is not governed by knowledge but by love.
        • A believer doesn’t lose anything (of spiritual value) by eating this food, but nor do they gain anything by abstaining from it as a matter of conscience or principle.
        • The new guiding principle isn’t a believer’s liberty (though it certainly exists). the guiding principle for a believer selfless consideration for others.
        • The believer must be determined to not cause any person with a more delicate conscience to stumble.
          • Applying this principle to this context means abstaining from meat (even though a believer is free to eat this type of meat), if doing so means causing a person who thinks its wrong to do this (and, in so doing, sinning).
    • Paul comments about his own God-given authority, mentioning how his own self-supported ministry should not be understood as the prescription for a church’s relationship with their spiritual leaders.
      • He told the church it was right to support the spiritual leaders.
      • His own determination to serve independently was accomplished in response the Lord’s compulsion upon him to do it this way.
      • In this regard, Paul saw himself as a servant to all people. And he was governed by the principle of selfless consideration for others.
        • To people who were under the Law (Jewish people), he conducted himself as someone who was still under the law.
        • To people who were not under the Law (Gentile people), he conducted himself as someone who was no longer under the law.
        • This others-centeredness made it possible for him to reach as many people as possible with the Gospel.
      • He compared this discipline to two athletic endeavors:
        • training to win a running race.
        • training as a boxer.
        • He was in it to win it (“It” being “seeing people trust Jesus.”)
When Rocky Is Paul, and the side of beef is others’ unbelief
  • To make his next points, Paul reminds the Corinthian Jewish believers of their ancestors who were united in their following of Moses, and illustrating that their common behavior was a baptism of sorts. He points out that their sharing in the water from the rock was a picture of Jesus.
    • From this, he reminds them of Israel’s waywardness (idolatry, pagan revelry, grumbling, etc.) This judgment against Israel was given as an example to believers now (and “now now,” too).As such, we must not put Christ to the test, the way the ancestors tested God.We must not succumb to temptation.
      • Deliverance from temptation is possible. The temptation will never be greater than what you can bear.God will always provide a way out of the temptation.Therefore, we must flee the worship of idols (an offense of our spiritual ancestors)He gives instruction to abstain from knowingly eating food sacrificed to idols, on the principle that it is food really offered to demons and to stay away from this evil. He acknowledges that this is permissible, but counters that it is still not advisable, because it isn’t beneficial. He reiterates the understated point: Don’t be concerned about your own good, but for the good of others.
      • The application of this is explained contextually with advice that if you are offered food, go ahead and eat it, but if the matter of conscience is raised, then abstain. bottom line: whatever you do, do it for the glory of God.Paul offers himself as the example in this, and tells them (and us), “Imitate me as I imitate Christ.”
  • Paul moves on to matters of order.
    • This commentary will be brief on on these matters, as they address an internal conflict of the Corinthian church and reflect the cultural practices of the time. A thorough commentary is offered here, via The Gospel Coalition.
    • My focus here isn’t on the custom; rather, on the clear teaching that God is characterized by order. As such, worship directed to him should likewise be orderly. Disorderly or chaotic worship is indicative of misdirected, ineffectual worship.
    • Continuing on the topic of order requires addressing the matter of unity. God is unified with himself. So, too, must we be unified. Apparently there was disunity regarding the commemoration of the Lord’s Supper.
      • Paul recounts the history that establishes the importance of the Lord’s Supper. He admonishes the Corinthians to examine themselves before participating in the Lord’s Supper and to approach the table with a clean account before the Lord.
      • He instructs the church to wait for the congregation to participate in it together.
    • Still under the topic of order is a proper understanding of Spiritual Gifts. He explains that these gifts are bestowed by the Holy Spirit, and are not of human origin.
      • He clarifies that everyone who believes receives at least one spiritual gift.
      • The purpose of the gift is to help one another (not for personal benefit or gain).
      • There are many different gifts given to the church.
      • God alone gives and distributes the gifts.
      • He compares the peoples’ spiritual giftedness to a human body to illustrate the principles of unity, coordination, and interdependence.
      • He exhorts people to desire the gifts that will be most beneficial to others.
      • understated point: spiritual giftedness reinforces that you exist as a follower of Jesus for the purpose of serving others.
Whether or not the gray stuff is delicious, we do, in fact, live to serve.
  • This discourse on order is paused, for a reenforcing and even transformational, discourse on “a way of life that is best for all.”
    • He says that knowledge without love makes a person like a noisy gong or clanging symbol.
    • A person who can teach God’s truth authoritatively, or possessed great wisdom, or possessed unsurpassed knowledge, but didn’t have love, was useless.
    • Even a person who was excessively sacrificial, if dispossessed of love, would gain nothing for all their sacrifice.
    • Paul describes love’s attributes:
      • love is patient and kind
      • love isn’t boastful or jealous or proud or rude
      • love doesn’t demand its own way
      • love isn’t irritable, and it doesn’t keep records of wrong
      • love doesn’t rejoice in injustice, but rejoices when truth wins out
      • love never gives up, never loses hope
      • love endures through everything
    • Paul explains the preeminence of love.
      • Spiritual giftedness will eventually become obsolete.
      • Love, though, will continue forever.
      • The current expressions of spiritual giftedness are incomplete, but when the end comes (the time of perfection), these incomplete things will be useless.
      • Eventually, the incomplete things we only partially understand know will become complete and we will understand them fully. When that happens, only three things remain…faith, hope, and love. And love is the greatest of these three things.
        • This translation says these three things last forever. Most translations render this phrase as “remain” or “abide,” connoting a different idea than what is communicated by the NLT. I’m more comfortable with the other translations, because I’m of the mind that my hope will be fulfilled and my faith will one day be realized. If so, these two will come to an end. But love will remain. understated point: Love is the apex, transcendent experience (and expression of relationship).
  • With the exhortation from Paul to pursue love as the highest goal, he encourages believers to desire special spiritual gifts, particularly the gift of prophecy (or to speak forth truth for the edification of other believers).
    • attention is returned to the “sticky wicket” of the spiritual gift of tongues, mentioning that prophecy is a better gift because it benefits more people than does the gift of tongues.
    • Paul offers some descriptive guidelines for the orderly presentation/expression of tongues in the life of a congregation.
      • tongues or languages must be understandable, or else the indistinguishable words will be useless.
      • Every language of the world has meaning, but if it is unknown or unknowable, it is useless. Because of this, Paul entreats you to pursue the gifts that will most benefit others.
      • Paul reasons through this thread arriving at the same conclusion repeatedly: simple, straightforward, known articulation of God’s truth is always best.
  • Paul summarizes points on orderly worship, emphasizing that orderliness affirms God’s involvement amongst the congregation, both internally and externally (as affirmation and witness).
Has this ever happened to your worship?
  • Paul reiterates the Gospel, encouraging the audience to stand firm in the truth of what Jesus accomplished. He explained that he is who he is by God’s appointment, Jesus’ Lordship, and the Spirit’s empowerment.
  • He then reaffirms the resurrection of Jesus, refuting the false claims of those striving to deny the historicity of the event.
    • In this, he explains the resurrection as an essential doctrine of the Christian faith.
    • The resurrection of Jesus overcomes the curse that came to humanity through the first man, Adam.
    • The resurrection of Jesus affirms the promised return of Jesus. He can only return (and will return) because he was resurrected in the first place.
    • There is a strange, singular reference to “baptism for the dead.” It isn’t affirmed or criticized. It is merely acknowledged that some practice that is commonly known is practiced at the time. Paul’s point isn’t whether it is right or wrong or good or bad, but that if there were no resurrection of Jesus, then there would be no justification whatsoever for the practice.
    • Moreover, even the overall efforts of Paul would be foolhardy without the resurrection.
    • Paul moves on to addressing the question of “how” bodily resurrection will happen.
      • He uses the comparison of a seed in the ground giving way to the growth of a plant.
      • The physical. body will give way to a spiritual body.
    • With all this, Paul encourages the congregation to do all they can for the Lord, because this is always productive and useful.
Bert, reading Immerse, realizes for whom he labors…
  • Paul closes with a quick instruction on how to support the offering for the church in Jerusalem, and then with closing remarks, with final exhortations:
    • Be on guard
    • Stand firm in the faith
    • Be courageous and strong
    • Do everything with love
    • Submit to spiritual leaders with devotion and appreciation.
  • In parting, he casually mentions “If anyone does not love the Lord, that person is cursed.” (grace and love to you in Jesus)
Even Chuck Norris takes heed to this warning.

Immerse Day 11 Observations

Text: 1 Corinthians 1:1- 7:40 (pp. 125-135)

  • Overview
    • Corinth was a Greek city famous for its immorality.
      • The people there had many non-Christian cultural influences.They were trying to meld their new faith with their established culture.One area this bore out had to do with understand what were good and permissible and honorable ways to honor their bodies.Paul wrote this letter in AD 50. He had stayed in Corinth for a year and a half before moving on to Ephesus. They had corresponded with him while his was in nearby Ephesus.Paul wrote them in response, and addressed several (12) topics of importance to the congregation in Corinth.
  • Paul identifies himself as the letter’s author, chosen by God to be an apostle of Christ. Sosthenes is listed as being present, too. There is not agreement about whether or not this is the same Sosthenes mentioned in Acts. If it is (the same Sosthenes), it would indicate him being a Jewish believer.
  • He addresses this to God’s church in Corinth. God has called these people to be believers. The church is not a human-conceived or organized institution. Jesus makes his church holy.
  • In his general benevolent greeting, Paul mentions how the people of Corinth have been blessed with every spiritual gift needed, and that God will keep the church strong until the day of the return of Jesus.
  • He appeals to the church to live in harmony with one another, to be unified and free from divisions. The congregation was divided, creating artificial and unnecessary schisms around following Paul, or Peter, or Apollos, or Jesus. Paul corrected that by reminding everyone of the preeminence of Jesus, and the singularity of the Gospel of Christ resurrected.
    • He reminds them that he came to them with the simple message of the Gospel.This simple message is considered foolishness to those who are perishing (who consequently don’t receive this message as truth). Yet, for those who are being saved, this Gospel message is the power of God.Here, the Gospel is presented in terms of power and wisdom, perceived as weakness and foolishness toward those who are powerful and wise (from a worldly perspective), but eternally mighty and wise to those who are weak and unimpressive to the world. God regularly uses the weak and unimpressive things of this world; accordingly, this keeps people from boasting. If you boast, boast only in the Lord
    • Paul reminds them of his coming to them in the simplicity of his message, relying only on the power of the Holy Spirit to be effective.
  • He explains that when he is with mature believers, he does use words of wisdom (to speak of more in-depth matters)
    • He explains this wisdom is articulated in the mystery of God; that is, the church. The plan of the church had been hidden from the beginning of time, but now was being revealed.
    • He further explains that nobody has ever understood this or comprehended it (for if they had, they would have misused it).
    • God has revealed these things now, to the church, and to the Jewish and Gentile believers alike.
      • God has revealed these things by the power of the Holy Spirit.
      • We learn here that the Holy Spirit is the revealer of the secret things of God because the Spirit alone knows God’s deepest thoughts.
      • understated points: God has given you His Spirit! This Spirit, who alone knows and reveals God’s secrets, lives within the believer and communicates with you these very details!
      • This is why we can say confidently that we speak with God’s wisdom and with God’s power.
      • Succinctly stated, we can have the mind of Christ.
      • understated points: the entirety of the triune godhead is present and available to you -knowing God’s thoughts (secrets), thinking with mind of Christ, and receiving the Spirit’s wisdom and power.
    • Despite all this, Paul acknowledges having had to speak to the Corinthians not as mature believers, but as spiritual infants, using simple words to communicate foundational truths. He gives as evidence of their immaturity:
      • They are jealous of one another and quarrel.
      • They unnecessarily divide over which teacher/leader they follow.
        • Paul reminds them that all these teachers work in union under the primary headship of Jesus. They have different responsibilities towards a common goal (that is, making and maturing believers)
        • He compares his efforts to constructing, in them, a building of faith. He explains that he has laid the foundation; that is, Jesus.
        • Other teachers are now building atop this foundation, and he warns the people to be careful with what how allow their faith to be constructed, because any other faith where Jesus is not the cornerstone will not survive God’s judgment.
        • Furthermore, the very things that any person uses to construct their own lives (so to speak) serve as the building blocks of life (in this construction of faith). The totality of all these things will be judged, too. If any of these things are on a different foundation (meaning they aren’t built upon the premise of Jesus), they will not pass through judgment.
        • Conversely, anything that is “of faith,” it will pass judgment and be rewarded.
        • Paul makes it clear that a person with a solid foundation of Jesus is still capable of building foolishly upon it. In these cases, the person will survive the judgment because their foundation is secure, but suffer the loss of everything foolish that was built upon it (that is not of faith).
        • Paul reminds the reader, “you are the Temple of God, and the Spirit of God lives within you.”
        • From this reminder, Paul tells the Corinthians to stop deceiving themselves with their own sense of self-importance and misperceptions of being wise…encouraging them to pursue the simple wisdom of God that is perceived as foolishness by the world.
Better that the world thinks you a fool and God makes you wise, than be wise to the world and a fool before God
  • Paul keeps progressing, encouraging the Corinthians to be faithful before God, and not to be distracted by judging others (or even self). Paul learned he can’t even trust his own conscience, but he wholly trusts the Lord to examine him.
    • Toward this end, he encourages people not to judge others prematurely.He employs some hyperbole and sarcasm as literary devices here to drive home the point that the Corinthians had “not yet arrived,” and weren’t as rich or authoritative as they thought themselves to be.To offer a stark counterpoint, he offers himself and the apostles for consideration.
      • To the world, they were the spectacles on display living under the sentence of death. They were perceived as fools to onlookers (while the proud Corinthians proclaimed themselves to be so wise). The Apostles were perceived as weak, in contrast to the Corinthians who presented as being mighty. They were ridiculed, while the Corinthians were honored.They were starved, beaten, homeless, overworked, cursed, abused, and mistreated. To the world, they were scum.
    • Paul tells them all this because he is uniquely positioned as their spiritual father to tell them…and he encourages them to imitate him, because in so doing, they will honor God.
      • This is why he sent Timothy to them, to remind them of these matters.
      • He loves them enough to tell them these hard truths.
  • The fact is, these hard truths are necessary because they are living immorally, with sexual practices that not even the unbelievers were doing.
    • He mentions specifically a man in a sexual relationship with his stepmother.
    • Not only is this man guilty, but the church, too, for not mourning over this sin.
    • Paul says this man should be ejected from the faith community.
    • This is a challenge for me. Not because I don’t agree with it, because I do. I’m just having a challenge reconciling this with the earlier exhortation he gives not to judge to prematurely. I ultimately resolve this challenge by the nature of the offense listed, that it is so patently egregious that it demands a response, as an expression of God’s clear opposition to the evil being committed.
    • Paul makes clear that this expulsion not punitive in nature, but to drive the man to the end of self, so that he may ultimately be saved.
    • His admonition points to the church itself in its culpability regarding this offense and offender, in that its coddling of him and unwillingness to be humble and pure created and environment where this type of evil could flourish.
    • This sinful environment is seen in the church’s willingness to boast about allowing such licentiousness in its midst (thus cheapening the grace of God).
    • He compares this sin to a yeast that works its way through an entire lump of dough. He exhorts them to get get fresh dough (so to speak) that is without yeast (or sin); in this, he is pointing the church to return to the simple foundation of holy Jesus Christ.
    • He clarifies here that these exhortations regarding a pure sexual ethic are specifically targeted toward believers.
    • Then he drops this truth bomb…and it addresses my earlier challenge, somewhat…that Christians are called to judge those inside the church, but not those outside the church.
      • This judgment means to be able to rightly pass the judgment of God because of alignment with truth.
      • It doesn’t mean having a judgmental attitude or a critical spirit.
      • It requires knowledge of truth, a humble attitude, and a restorative, gracious spirit.
  • He chides the believers who have made a practice of dragging other believers to court. We mustn’t do that, because when we do, we allow the unbelieving world have judgment over us, and we are operating out of order. We betray our faith in this regard, and we convolute and distort the order of God by abandoning the sense that God’s wisdom is superior to man’s wisdom and God’s outcomes are superior to human outcomes.
  • This teaching is accompanied by a listing of the types of carnal behaviors typified by the lost person that will not inherit the kingdom of God. Paul reminds his audience that they are not like the unbelieving world. They were made right with God by calling on the name of Jesus.
  • Paul returns to a brief discourse on fleeing sexual immorality, because the notion that we have the liberty to do anything we want (particularly with our bodies) is wrong. He makes the point that fornication and adultery are unholy unions that corrupts the sanctity of marriage.
  • Sexual immorality is a sin against a person’s own body (which is the Temple of God, the God who lives within you).
  • understated point: you are not your own. you have been bought for an expensive price, so honor God with your body.
  • Paul then moves into answering some questions that had been posed to him:
    • Abstinence was virtuous.
    • So is monogamy.
    • Mutual submission in a marriage relationship is honoring of one another and functionally beneficial.
    • Depriving one another (husband and wife) sexually is not good.
    • Singleness is virtuous, but not realistic for all people.
    • If you can’t live a virtuous single life, pursue marriage.
    • For those who marry, stay married.
    • Abandoning a spouse is not good.
    • If you leave your spouse, don’t make matters worse. Either stay single or eventually try to reconcile.
    • If you are married to someone who is an unbeliever, stay married.
      • There is a chance your unbelieving spouse will come to belief.
    • However, if your unbelieving spouse leaves, you are no longer bound to the spouse who abandoned you.
    • Generally speaking, try to live in the circumstances in which you find yourself. Strive to be faithful in the circumstances of where you are.
    • Reiterating: don’t idealize or idolize marriage. Singleness is beneficial if you can thrive in it. Marriage offers benefits, but also its own challenges.
    • Marriage relationships are for life, but when the life of a spouse ends, the marriage commitment ends. A widow/er is free to remarry, but must remember to marry a fellow believer. (There’s no expiration date for the truths of God).
whether this or…
this, honor God with your life.

Immerse Day 10 Observations Part 2

Text: 2 Thessalonians (pp. 119-123)

  • Overview
    • This letter is a reaction to a counterfeit letter that had been written, misrepresenting Paul and authentic doctrines.
    • He signed this one at the end to verify this content had come from him.
    • This letter discusses events surrounding Jesus’ return, including “the man of lawlessness,” who is described here as the culmination of evil on earth.
  • Paul again greets the Thessalonians with the benevolent extensions of grace and peace.
  • He commends them for their flourishing faith and growing love for one another, in the face of persecution.
  • He encourages them that the persecution will be rewarded by God’s justice, to be issued upon Christ’s return. This offers a promise of rest for the persecuted.
    • There is included here an interesting insight to one aspect of judgment (and hell); that is, eternal separation from the Lord and his glorious power.
    • Conversely, Jesus will receive glory from his holy people on the day of his return.
    • In light of this, Paul and his friends pray for the Thessalonians to be able live a life worthy of that call, and to be filled with the power that enables them to do the things God calls us to do.
    • understated points: you can only do what God calls you to do if he gives you the power to do it. Fortunately, he promised to do just that (Acts 1:8). This should remind us to never try to do anything God leads us to do apart from him.
    • Paul reminds us that this gift of power for success in our God-given tasks is in itself a grace gift from the Lord.
  • Paul then begins to clarifies some matters for the Thessalonians (and us):
    • The day of the Lord has not yet begun (contrary to the report of some)
    • This event has to be preceded by a great rebellion against God and the presentation of the man of lawlessness.
      • This man will exalt himself and defy everything that people call god and every object of worship.
      • He will seat himself in the temple and call himself God.
      • He can only come when his appointed time comes.
      • make no mistake: he is not God’s “equal opposite.” He is an appointed tool of judgment against rebellious creation, who will conduct his business under the authority of sovereign God.
      • He is being restrained, but lawlessness is already at work in secret.
      • There will be a time when the restraining forces of God (and his Holy Spirit and his Church) will be set aside.
      • The emergence of this man will mean the imminent return of Jesus, who will slay this man (overcome him, details of which are explained in Revelation).
      • This man will be filled with satanic power and will perform counterfeit miracles, that will fool many.
      • note: those who will be deceived are “those on their way to destruction, because they refuse to love and accept the truth that will save them. those who love and accept the truth that will save them will not be deceived! Fear not!
In Jesus, you are secure. His truth protects you, sets you free!
  • Paul gives thanks that God chose these believers to be among the first who experienced salvation.
    • This salvation was accomplished through the Spirit, who makes you holy and your belief in the truth.
    • Because of this, it is possible to stand firm in the face of persecution and lawlessness.
    • He prays for the Lord to comfort and strengthen them.
  • He asks for prayer for the message to continue to spread, and for deliverance from those who are evil. He prays for a full maturity of their faith and patient endurance.
  • He concludes with a reiteration of the necessity of diligent work among believers. He set himself as the example to be followed in this. In response to news of Christians there being idle, he simply tells them:
Settle down and work to earn your living!
  • Another succinct gem: never get tired of doing good.
    • Interestingly, this exhortation is directed to the people who are already faithful about working…so the point is made, don’t stop working. work is good. Keep doing good.
    • Paul gives some corollary admonishments related to this, in having workers “stay away” from non-workers, so the non-workers may be ashamed of their sloth. There is also a functional benefit of this tactic, too, that the non-worker can’t hide behind the productivity of the worker.
  • Paul closes with a personal benediction and personally signs the letter.

Immerse Day 10 Observations pt. 1

Text: 1 Thessalonians (pp. 111 – 117)

  • Overview:
    • Paul wrote to believers in Thessalonica to fill in their gaps in what they knew about matters of faith.These believers were concerned about loved ones who died before Jesus’ return (and would they be excluded from the promised inheritance for believers)Some believers continued to live as they had before they believed (immorally)Some challenged Paul’s teachings, and some faced persecution for following Jesus.To remember Paul and Silas’ initial efforts in the region, read Acts 17:1-9. This letter is the first (earliest) letter that we have from Paul.
insert chime sound here
  • Using the standard format, Paul identifies himself, Silas, and Timothy as the originators of this message, the Thessalonian believers as the recipients, and begins with a standard greeting of grace and peace from God.
    • This greeting is no mere formality, but it sets the framework for the content that will follow….grace: God’s undeserved riches….peace: God’s complete tranquility…both lavishly extended and experienced through faith in Jesus. It is because we have the grace of God that we enjoy peace with God, and this empowers us to realize the truths explained in this letter.
  • Paul affirms that he and his colleagues pray continually for the believers in Thessalonica, giving thanks for their faithfulness, their love, and their faith.
  • Starting with a bang….God loves you! God has chosen you to be his own people. Remember grace…God’s undeserved blessing. The love of God is a grace gift. We cannot treat it like it’s something we “opt in to” because God has impressed us enough to persuade us to direct our affections toward him.
    • The message of Jesus is delivered with power – the Holy Spirit indwelling and super-charging the communicated words in ways that gives assurance of the truth of the message. This enables people to receive the word with joy amidst adversity.Consequently, the Thessalonians became a model of belief for the entire region.understated points: This is still true today. The Holy Spirit empowers his messengers and his message. People in the middle of adversity still receive his message as truth with joy, and lives are transformed. Part of the testimony of the Thessalonians is illustrated in their turning away from idols and serving the living God. They are known as a community of believers who are looking for the return of Jesus.
      • I think the return of Jesus is a less-emphasized aspect of Christianity today, with a greater emphasis on the current indwelling of the Holy Spirit and his empowerment of day-to-day victory. It’s not that Christians today don’t believe in his impending return. It’s just not talked about as much (in my awareness, at least).Even though Paul & Co. met early opposition in their efforts in Thessalonica, he wrote in this letter that the trip was no failure, for it spawned the church there, and they did have authentic results as the outcome of their sincere ministry.
      • Paul writes a bit here about their sincerity:
        • They sought to please God aloneThey didn’t pursue human praise.They were hard workersThey were honest among the communityThey were encouragersThey exhorted people to live holy livesIt is because of all this that the message was received, which gave Paul cause to thank God then, and now because the good results continue to manifest.understated point: the word that saves is the word that continues to work in those who believe. The power of the word of God never depletes, diminishes, or dies.Paul acknowledges that the Thessalonians experienced persecution because of believing in Jesus. He encourages them that they are joining the fellowship of the persecuted, and to remain faithful.Paul expresses his longtime interest in returning to them, but that he was prevented by Satan in doing so. We don’t know what this opposition was, but we know it impeded Paul’s own strong interests in returning to these believers who he described as being his “pride and joy.”Paul wrote that they finally sent Timothy to them to strengthen, encourage, and establish them. Timothy had recently returned, bringing with him a good report of success (expressed in terms of the faith and love of the Thessalonians). Consequently, Paul and his team were greatly encouraged.
        • understated point: often, encouragers are themselves encouraged by the courage expressed by those the encouragers initially encouraged. #encouragement
        • Paul hoped for a soon-coming reunion, and until them he asks the Lord to bless them with an abundance of love for one another that results in strong hearts and blameless, holy lives.
  • Paul exhorts the Thessalonians to live a holy, blameless life.
    • This means avoiding all sexual sin. Generally speaking this means being in control of your body, rather than being enslaved to individual desires.
    • This means not cheating or harming another believer through adultery.
    • Living in purity is something that God calls people to do.
    • Rejecting this call to pure living is ultimately a rejection of God, who makes living in purity possible (through the indwelling presence of his Holy Spirit).
  • Paul repeats his call to love one another, and to keep “pressing forward” in the emphasis of love.
  • Paul exhorts them to live quiet lives, minding their own business, and to work productively.
    • understated points: a quiet life is a noble goal. Minding your own business is the honorable means to accomplish this noble goal, as is hard work. Deviating from the two means almost guarantees failure to accomplish the noble goal.
    • Paul also notes that living quietly, discretely, and productively helps nonbelievers respect they way you live and functionally keeps you from depending on others.
  • Paul directs attention to truth about what happens to believers who die.
    • He tells them this to give them hope
    • He tells them this message comes straight from the Lord…this isn’t tradition or fable or legend.
    • He tells them that believers who died before Christ’s return will meet the returning Christ first, followed by the believers still alive at the return.
    • He then mentions that believers still living will be “caught up” to meet the Lord in the air, accomplishing the total reunion of all believers, eternally.
  • He tells the believers that the day and the hour aren’t known and will happen suddenly, but that they as believers should be aware of the season in which they live. He exhorts them to be watchful, protected by their faith, love, and being confident in their salvation because they were saved from God’s judgment and through Christ, will live with God forever. Paul wants the church to continue to encourage one another with the truth of their hopeful expectations.
  • He advises the believers to support their leaders with honor and respect, and to live peaceably amongst each other. Then he gives final exhortations:
    • Warn the lazy
    • encourage the timid
    • Take care of the weak
    • Be patient with everyone
    • Don’t repay evil with evil
    • Do good to all people
    • Always be joyful
    • Never stop praying
    • Be thankful in everything
    • Don’t stifle the Holy Spirit
    • Don’t scoff at prophecies (teachings), but test everything
    • Hold on to what is good.
    • Stay away from evil
  • Paul reminds them of the peace they enjoy that makes them holy…that God’s peace makes it possible to be blameless until the return of Jesus. God will make this happen.

Immerse Day 9 Observations

More than 3500 people at  Scottsdale Bible Church are reading through the New Testament together over 8 weeks.

Text: Acts 19:21-28:31 (pp. 95-110)

  • Following Ephesus, the Holy Spirit led Paul to return to Macedonia and Achaia, and then compelled him to go to Rome. We see the narrative swelling toward its apex.
  • Timothy is now presented here as an assistant (along with Erastus). They were being sent ahead to Macedonia.
  • Trouble, though, was brewing back in Ephesus, where the movement of Christianity posed a serious threat to the economy of pagan worship (and the sales of idols).
  • Demetrius, an Ephesian silversmith, complained that the Gospel’s advance came at the expense of Artemis worship (and related commerce). The complaint was rooted in a sudden loss of prosperity, but couched in religious language.
    • This riled up the local community, and chaos ensued.
    • Eventually the mayor was able to settle them down, under concerns that the growing anarchy was putting them at risk with Rome.
    • understated points: false gods need humans to support and promote them in order to exist. In this, Artemis is a counterfeit god, and really just the mask of the more insidious false god of the love of money. People have the remarkable capacity to make ignoble things seem more noble. Doing this doesn’t make those ignoble things noble.
  • Paul left for Macedonia, then went on to Greece for three months. When a plot to kill him was discovered, he went back the way he had come, and eventually ended up in Troas, where they stayed for a few days.
    • On the eve of his departure, Paul was preaching an extended message, where a young man named Eutychus fell asleep and fell 3 stories out a window to his death.
      • Welcome to the Scripture that has served as a pun-rife warning against long-winded preaching ever since.
      • Paul went down and took him into his arms. He was alive.
      • They all went back upstairs, celebrated the Lord’s Supper, and ate together.
      • And Paul kept preaching until sunrise.
“Nothing slowed him down.”
– Eutychus (probably)
  • Paul pressed on toward Jerusalem, stopping in Ephesus to encourage them by saying:
    • the Gospel is the same for the Gentile and the Jew: salvation is available through Jesus.
    • Life offered suffering for the Gospel, but that the only value in life is to be found in obeying God’s will and doing the things God has established for you to do.
    • To the elders:
      • Guard yourself and God’s people. The church is God’s flock. They need guidance, provision, and protection.
      • There would be opposition, some of which may come from surprising internal sources (people looking to gain their own following, disregarding that the congregation is God’s, purchased by the blood of Jesus).
    • He closed with an exhortation for the people to work. Christians ought not be lazy or noncontributory to the community’s well-being. Be givers, not takers.
  • He then bid a fond farewell and proceeded to Jerusalem.
    • He stopped in Caesarea and visited Philip (the deacon-turned-evanglist), who was now ministering here, along with his four daughters.
obligatory Deacon photo, who had some of his own challenges contending with a devil.
  • Another prophet named Agabus, foretold that Paul would be seized by the Romans in Jerusalem, and handed over to Gentiles. This caused everyone else to worry, but Paul would not be dissuaded.
  • understated points: even godly people will sometimes see adversity as indicators of a need to stop moving forward. Expect adversity and go forward in faith. God wants to deliver you through adversity, not around it.
  • They finally arrived at Jerusalem, and were met by the church leaders there.
    • Paul recounted his experiences.
    • The leaders talked about the challenges they continued to have regarding Gentiles and expectations placed upon them.
    • They asked Paul to participate in the cleansing ritual so others would see he had not abandoned his Jewish heritage and identity, and that the expectations placed upon the Gentiles would remain has had been earlier stated (to honor the moral laws of abstaining from immorality, violence, and idolatry).
    • Paul did as requested.
    • Some Asiatic Jews later recognized Paul and formed a mob, accusing him with lies and unfounded assumptions.
      • They dragged him out of the Temple to stone him.
      • They only stopped when the Roman guard intervened.
      • The mob was more afraid of their earthly occupiers than of their divine sovereign.
      • The Romans arrested Paul. Then they tried to figure out charges.
this doesn’t add up
  • Paul made it clear he was a Roman (to the Romans who thought he was Egyptian), then he spoke in Aramaic to the Jews (their native language).
    • He gave his defense, and they fell silent until he said that God’s grace was being offered to the Gentiles, too.
    • At this, they called his message worthless and determined again to kill him.
      • Removing their coats would make it easier to throw stones.
      • Throwing dirt may by symbolic for their low regard for his message, or it may be what they threw at him because there were no rocks to be found there.
    • Continuing with judicial practices that kept Paul bound in shackles of irony, the commander ordered to have Paul whipped until he confessed to something. That’s when Paul, not rhetorically, asked if it was copacetic to be beating a Roman citizen without a trial?
you know, hypothetically
  • So, the soldiers stopped those plans.
  • The next day, Ananias the high priest and the Jewish high council arrived. Paul addressed them.
    • Ananias ordered Paul to be smacked in the face.
    • When lies and accusations and mob mentality all fail, the carnal mind resorts to inducing fear, violence, and intimidation.
    • Paul, in turn, turned his own strategy to turn the two schisms (the Pharisees and Saducees) against each other by highlighting that all he was doing was preaching that resurrection from the dead was legit.
    • This tactic worked, in that it caused some Pharisees to support him, but it also caused the room to grow increasingly volatile.
    • Roman soldiers extracted Paul.
    • That night, the Lord visited Paul and encouraged him with the revelation that his mission would continue all the way to Rome.
  • The conspiring Jewish leaders further developed their plot to kill Paul. Yet, Paul’s kin became aware of the plot and alerted the Roman commander, who increased their protection of Paul, and ordered that he be delivered to the Roman governor Felix for trial.
    • Felix agreed to hear the trial when Paul’s acccusers arrived.
    • Ananias and crew showed up five days later, along with a lawyer who tried to establish a case against Paul using lies, slander and hyperbole, supported by a liars’ choir singing a chorus of false testimony.
    • Paul took his turn and set the record straight.
    • Felix (who was familiar with Christianity) determined to delay his verdict.
      • In the next few days, Felix showed up to Paul, bringing his wife Drusilla, and Paul talked to the both of them about matters of faith.
      • What a picture of the sovereignty of God to bring the Gospel of peace to Roman leaders, drawing them to visit an imprisoned Jewish believer!
      • Felix had hoped that Paul would bribe him. This was common practice of that day. This commentary also gives us a peek into the mind of Felix, that even though he knew Paul’s testimony to be true, he was skeptical of spiritual matters (perhaps because so much of religion was corrupt, as were so many who represented faiths of different sorts). In fact, Felix kept calling on Paul to talk with him, giving Paul ample opportunity to make such a bribe.
      • The delay extended 2 years, because justice delayed kept Paul in prison, which pleased the Jewish authorities, which brought favor to Felix.
    • Yet, Felix was succeeded by Festus, and the Jewish leaders quickly approached him to revive their plot to kill Paul, trying to force Paul out into the open where he could be murdered.
      • Felix held a new trial, and floated the consideration of having Paul go back to Jerusalem to be tried (which was what the Jewish leaders wanted).
      • Paul forcefully declined, pressing his right to be tried by Caesar in Rome.
      • Felix was bound by the laws to honor Paul’s rights, so he agreed to Paul’s demand.
    • Soon after, King Agrippa (II, the son of Agrippa I who had ordered the Apostle James killed) arrived with his sister Bernice (with whom he was having an incestuous relationship). Festus talked with Agrippa about Paul, and Agrippa determined he wanted to hear from Paul, so they arranged the parties to convene.
      • This gathering took place the next day. Festus actually declared Paul’s innocence in this setting, in introducing Paul. Paul then spoke, recapping his testimony.
      • Festus exclaimed that Paul was crazy, which Paul rebutted, then appealed to Agrippa to concur with his theological conclusions.
        • This was savvy of Paul, because if Agrippa had agreed, he would have the highest Roman authority (present at that time) on his side (which was much more about Agrippa being self-declared in agreement with Paul’s teachings about Jesus).
        • Agrippa understood this, and wasn’t willing to identify as a Christian. Note, he didn’t disagree, either. He was determined to remain impartial and not personally identify with either side.
        • understated point: Paul was doggedly determined to share Jesus as the Way with everyone he could, regardless of heritage, title, rank, or position. He only cared about other people knowing Jesus the way he knew Jesus and relating with him the way he related with Jesus.
        • The leaders all agreed that Paul had done nothing deserving death or the treatment he had been receiving, and commented that they would have freed him if it weren’t for his demand to be tried in Rome in front of Caesar.
        • This brings to a close Paul’s third missionary journey, detailed here:
Paul’s third missionary journey, courtesy of conformstojesus.com
  • Paul (and some in his party) were set on a boat for Rome, along with other prisoners. Julius, the captain of the Regiment, showed kindness to Paul on the journey.
    • They ran into bad weather, and Julius put the prisoners on a different ship sailing to Rome.
    • They hit more bad weather. Paul foretold that proceeding into the weather would bring shipwreck, loss of cargo, and endangered lives. The sailors proceeded anyway.
    • The bad weather carried them out to sea. As winds continued to batter the ship, the crew began dumping cargo (✔).
    • The storm raged for days. The crew didn’t eat. They began to despair. Paul told them to be encouraged, because he had been shown that none would die from this adversity…but they would be shipwrecked.
    • On the 14th day of the storm(!), they thought they were approaching shore, but soon found themselves driven against the rocks. Paul advised them and kept them safe – , but they were shipwrecked (✔✔).
    • As they were approaching the shore from the shipwreck, officers wanted to kill all the prisoners, but the commander remembered Paul and kept him safe – all 276 lives were saved (✔✔✔).
  • They had landed at Malta, where the locals met the crew and party. At a campfire, the initially thought Paul was evil, but as he survived a venomous snakebite, they then considered him a god.
    • Paul prayed for and healed the sick dad of the Malta’s chief official. That attracted all the other sick, and Paul healed them all. When the time came for them to depart, they were supplied with all they needed.
  • Three months after the shipwreck, they went on to Rome.
Paul and Luke’s Bogus Adventure (courtesy of conformtojesus.com)

Upon arriving, they met other believers and Paul was permitted to have a private (but guarded) residence.

  • Three days later, Paul called an audience with the Roman Jewish leaders, and shared his reason for being there, to be tried by Caesar.
  • The Jewish leaders said they had not received a complaint about Paul, but they did want to hear more about his beliefs.
  • So Paul welcomed them into his lodging and began reasoning with them to illuminate them about Jesus. Some believed. Some did not.
  • When Paul had reached the full extent of being able to speak to the Jews, he explained that he was taking this same message to the Gentiles, and they will accept it.
  • Paul remained in Rome for 2 years at his own expense (not on the government dole). He was faithful in proclaiming Jesus.
  • And nobody tried to stop him.
  • (wikipedia’s account of Paul’s death are available here.)

Immerse Day 8 Observations

More than 3500 people at  Scottsdale Bible Church are reading through the New Testament together over 8 weeks.

Text: Acts 13:5 – 19:29 (pp. 82-94)

  • Saul and Barnabas returned to Antioch, bringing John Mark with them (from Jerusalem).
  • Back in Antioch, the two leaders were set apart and sent out by the Holy Spirit to a special work. This was the first missionary journey and John Mark was their assistant.
  • This first journey led them to Salamis on the island of Cyprus, where Saul preached in the synagogue there. They covered the island.
  • It strikes me (uniquely in my history) that I have read this New Testament many times, and never think twice about the synagogues existing all over these Mediterranean communities. I’m unfamiliar to their histories and ignorant of the advance of Judaism into this region prior to the New Testament.
I have some learning’ to do…
  • In the Cyprian town of Paphos, they met the governor name Sergius Paulus and a false prophet named Bar-Jesus (“son of Jesus” – he wasn’t). He is indicated as being a man who “attached himself to the governor” (who himself is described as “an intelligent man” who had called for the disciples to come to him expressly because he had wanted to hear their message) and attempted to distract the governor from listening to them. He is indicted (scripturally, that is) for trying to keep the governor from believing.
  • Saul, through the Holy Spirit, recognized the evil tactics being employed, and stuck the evil-doer with blindness. This made an immediate impact on the governor, who believed.
  • Here, Saul is indicated as also being known as Paul. It has been suggested that this is a “name change” reflective of a new identity as a follower of Jesus. This is unlikely; rather, just as Bar-Jesus also had a Greek name (Elymas), “Paul” is the Greek “common name” of “Saul.” Here is a good article on the topic. There is interesting conjecture if the prioritization of Paul over Saul from this point on in Luke’s Gospel reflects Paul’s primary ministry to the Gentiles, and Luke’s awareness of his letter’s reader, Theophilus, himself being a Gentile.
Saul? Paul!
  • Their next stop on this first journey was Pamphylia, where they landed in the port town of Perga. We read that John Mark returned to Jerusalem, but we don’t read more about this until a bit later. Paul and Barnabas proceeded inland to Antioch of Pisidia.
    • fun fact: the founder of this Antioch is Seulucid, who was a general under Alexander the Great. When Alexander died and his kingdom was divided amongst his generals, Seleucid found 16 Antiochs, all in honor of his father, Antiochus, who himself was a general under Philip II. Seleucid also named a son Antiochus.
    • Following their patterned practices, they went to the synagogue, and in the “open mic” time, Paul addressed the crowd, giving them a brief history lesson then pointing to King David’s descendant Jesus as the Messiah (“God’s promised savior of Israel!”)Paul addresses the crowd, and deliberately including “Sons of Abraham” and “God fearing Gentiles” as “Brothers,” (demonstrating again the inclusivity of the Gospel), telling them that, in the person of Jesus, the message of salvation has been sent. Paul then recounted the false charges, fraudulent trial, crucifixion and resurrection of Jesus, all of which were fulfillment of the prophetic Scriptures.Paul then told the audience that this message was good news for them, that Jesus offered them the forgiveness of their sins, and that anyone who believed could be “made right in God’s sight,” and pointed out this was something that Moses could not do. Many people believed and begged them to stay. The following week, they returned to a much larger crowd, but some of the Jewish leaders present became jealous of the men because of the massive attraction these two had brought. Because of their jealousy, they slandered Paul and and argued against him. With their rejection, Paul explained how they were taking the message to the Gentiles.
      • Interestingly, Paul explains their rejection as a self-judgment of being unworthy of eternal life. This indicates that the Gospel is objectively available, but rejection is a self-determined rejection and self-incriminating judgment that God acknowledges, respects, and holds in account. He will not force salvation upon a person who has resolved to reject his grace.
    • The Gentiles were overjoyed at this invitation and many believed.
      • Interestingly, the Scriptures read, “all who were chosen for eternal life became believers.”
      • understated point: the question about free will/predestination is not an “or” question as much as it is an “and” question. This passage affirms both, and we are well-served to appreciate that both are involved in the matter of salvation (or the rejection of that salvation).
    • The Lord’s message spread through the region. The jealous religious leaders took the tactic of stirring up the influential religious women and the leaders of the city, and fomented a mob against Paul and Barnabas. What they couldn’t accomplish by reasonable discourse, they accomplished through violence.
    • Even so, the violence couldn’t deny the believers being filled with the Holy Spirit’s joy.
  • The same thing happened at Iconium, their next stop.
    • This pattern became typical. Crowds came. Many were saved, Jew and Gentile alike. Some Jewish leaders were incensed, and plotted and conspired to undermine the work. Paul and Barnabas persevered. They provided miracles. Response was divided. Mobs formed. Violence ensued. Paul and Barnabas escaped and moved on.
  • At the town of Lystra, they encountered a man who had never walked. Paul recognized his faith and healed him.
    • The people mistakenly interpreted this miracle as evidence that Paul and Barnabas were Hermes and Zeus, respectively (the Greek gods were worshipped there). Accordingly, the people brought them offerings of devotion.
    • Paul and Barnabas were quick to decry this attempted devotion, deliberately and overtly pointing people back to Jesus.
    • understated points: opportunities to rob God of his glory are everywhere. By nature, people are inclined to mistakenly attribute the work of God to lesser sources. Discipline and humility are necessary to direct accolades to the lone source worthy of all praise.
    • Some Jews arrived from Antioch and Iconium (they followed behind to challenge the advance of the Gospel?). They persuaded the crowds and stoned Paul, leaving him for dead.
    • understated point: people with faithless eyes and ears are fickle and easily swayed.
    • Paul wasn’t dead. He got up and returned to town.
Paul still had some work to do
  • The next day, Paul continued on to Derbe. #derbedays (this hash pun has an admittedly limited audience)
    • With only a summation of having success there, Paul and Barnabas have a 2.0 tour back through the prior communities they visited and did important work, strengthening believers by:
      • Encouraging them to persevere
      • Reminding them that suffering was part of the disciples experience
      • prayerfully appointing spiritual leaders (elders).
    • Concluding this, they continued their travels to Attalia and then returned to Antioch in Syria, having completed their appointed work.
  • They gave a report of all that had happened, staying in Antioch for an extended time.
  • While in Antioch, Judeans arrived, teaching that men weren’t true believers unless they submitted to being circumcised (as required by Old Testament law). Paul and Barnabas sharply protested this false teaching. To resolve the conflict, the church sent Paul and Barnabas to Jerusalem to hear from the Apostles on the matter.
    • Along the way, they saw Gentiles being converted in Phoenicia and Samaria. Paul and Barnabas were welcomed by the Apostles and elders, and despite the good report of lives being changed, the Pharisaic believers reiterated the call for new converts to be circumcised.After discussion, Peter declared that Gentiles need not be circumcised, because salvation was by grace of God alone through faith in Jesus alone. Paul and Barnabas shared more about how God was saving Gentiles.James then gave judgment that the Gentiles would be expected to abstain from eating meat dedicated to idols, sexual immorality, eating meat of strangled animals, and consuming blood. The statement that “these have been preached in the synagogues in every city on every Sabbath…” reflects moral prohibitions that exist to facilitate fellowship between Messianic Jews and Gentile believers – these are prohibitions against idolatry, sexual immorality, and bloodshed (murder – strangling is violence, and “consuming blood” is probably better understood as “shedding blood”). The judgment to teach these moral prohibitions to the Gentiles is to say, in a sense, “in addition to salvation being a grace gift from God through faith in Jesus, we can agree that God wants us to flee idolatry, immorality, and violence.”Delegates from Jerusalem (Barsabbas and Silas) joined Paul and Barnabas in taking this message back to Antioch. They brought with them a letter from Jerusalem that:
      • affirmed them in the fellowship of authentic faith.distanced themselves from the Pharisaic believers who had infiltrated Antioch with bad teaching. Clarification on the issues in question.
    • The letter was well received. The Jerusalem delegates then preached and strengthened the faith.
    • understated point: hearing from other authoritative voices in the greater Kingdom of God can be encouraging and instructive.
Paul’s first missionary journey, with notes, courtesy of conforfingtojesus.com. click link for larger map
  • The Jerusalem delegates stayed for a bit and then returned home. Paul and Barnabas remained in Antioch for some time, but…
  • After a while, Paul floated the idea of a reunion tour.
Paul, to Barnabas, probably.
  • Alas, like Eddie Van Halen having a sharp disagreement with David Lee Roth about whether or not Michael Anthony should play bass, Paul and Barnabas had a unresolvable conflict regarding whether or not to bring along John Mark on this journey (with Paul against and Barnabas for, respectively).
    • They separated over this disagreement.
    • understated point: sometimes disagreements exist within the Kingdom, and it doesn’t necessarily mean one is right and one is wrong.
    • Barnabas took John Mark and they sailed for Cyprus.
    • Paul teamed up with Silas and they traveled through Syria and Cilicia (arriving back at Derbe and Lystra).
      • It can’t be assumed that Barnabas was wrong or that his ministry apart from Paul was ineffective. Paul is the focus of this letter, and therefore attention remains with him in terms of the narrative. Tradition shares that Barnabas had a fruitful continuing ministry that concluded with his own martyrdom.
      • At Lystra, we meet a young man named Timothy (who will become increasingly prominent as the narrative continues). Timothy is the son of a Jewish believer (mom) and a Greek father (whose belief is not affirmed here). He was well thought of among believers. Paul wanted to bring him along to join in the work. So he had him circumcised.
wait…I thought we decided that wasn’t necessary?!?
  • The understanding of this decision regarding Timothy is found in the context. Having a Gentile birth father, Timothy would not have been considered a Jew among the Jews. So the circumcision addressed this. And if Timothy had not been circumcised, he would have been more closely identified with the Gentile believers than with the Jewish believers. There was also ministry strategy employed here, as well, since Paul’s practice was to appeal to the Jews first. And we later read that no partner in ministry was more present or participatory in Paul’s work than Timothy. This was indeed a sacrificial action that ended up being beneficial for long-term effectiveness. Finally, there is the consideration that Paul, serving as a spiritual father to Timothy, and himself never having “done away” with his own spiritual heritage, saw this as important for Timothy to have done as a Jewish believer (as compared to if he had been a Gentile convert which would have rendered the action unnecessary).
  • Regardless, as a result (not of the circumcision, but of Paul’s Spirit-led efforts and Silas’ and Timothy’s inclusion in it), the church was strengthened.
  • Paul and Silas continued on through the region, but were denied by the Holy Spirit northward passage into the region of Asia. They were similarly frustrated at Bithynia to the North, so they went South to Troas.
    • There, Paul had a vision that a Macedonian man in Northern Greece (south, relative to where their efforts and been denied) was calling for help to preach the good news there.
    • The next day, they sailed south and west and reached Philippi (a Macedonian Roman colony).
    • I’m repeatedly struck curious by the person-shift that takes place here from third-person to second-person. It is speculated that this may be an indirect self-revelation as the recording physician Luke as the famed “Macedonian man.” Hard to say, but suddenly for whatever reason, Luke definitely makes a shift from “they” language to “we” language.
hmmm…
  • At Macedonia, they met Lydia, who was known in the area for being a merchant of expensive purple cloth. She heard the message and believed, and she and her household were baptized. They opened their home to the missionary contingent.
  • Next they met a slave girl who had an ability to prophecy. She tagged along and kept vocalizing that the men were servants of God and could tell people how to be saved.
  • Interestingly, this girl exasperated Paul, and he commanded the possessing spirit to leave her. It did.
  • Paul’s action was bad for business for the girl’s enslavers. They maligned Paul and Silas and lied, saying they were teaching illegal customs.
    • Again, “mob rule” prevailed and the two were severely beaten with wooden rods and thrown into prison.
    • understated point: Jealous religious leaders hold no monopoly on violent, murderous mentality. Every person has the capacity to objectify and de-humanize another, apart from the Spirit of God and provoked by the right cunning tactic.
    • That night in prison, the earth quaked and brought down the prison, freeing the chains of every prisoner.
      • The jailer assumed the prisoners had escaped and was about to kill himself (yeesh…harsh overlords in this region)
      • Yet, Paul and Silas stopped him, and in doing so, showed the jailer unfamiliar compassion. As a result, the jailer believed.
      • note: it is worth noting the recurring theme here that “and his household,” because it could be incorrectly understood that a person’s belief is salvific for an entire household. As this Scripture makes clear, because the jailer believed, the Gospel was shared with the entire household and the entire household, in turn, believed as well.
      • The next morning, the city officials freed Paul and Silas, telling them to go in peace. They were hoping for a low-key disappearance.
      • Paul, though, demanded that they come issue the release themselves. To expedite this, Paul articulated his identity as a Roman citizen, which alarmed the local leaders.
      • The leaders acquiesced and then begged them to leave. Which they did, after a little more time encouraging Lydia’s household.
  • Travels next brought Paul and Silas to Thessalonica, where they went to the synagogue and began reasoning through the Scriptures with the locals. Believers there included Jewish people, God-fearing Gentile men and “quite a few prominent women.”
    • Big shock, local Jewish leaders were jealous. Formed a mob. Started a riot.
    • Took control of a man named Jason, who had shown the missionaries hospitality.
    • Accused the missionaries of causing trouble all over the world, disturbing the city, and being guilty of treason.
Stirring up accusations, hoping something sticks
  • The city was riled up, Jason was forced to post bond. The end. (kinda)
  • Paul and Silas went to nearby to Berea, where as they shared, they encountered open-minded people who searched the Scriptures to verify what was being taught.
  • As a result, many believed (over several days)
  • However, the contentious Thessalonians sent a contingent to stir up trouble. The believers sent Paul to the coast, leaving Silas and Timothy behind.
  • Paul went all the way to Athens, leaving instructions for his partners to rejoin him as soon as possible.
    • In Athens, Paul observed the pervasive multiculturalism, and addressed it by speaking both in the synagogue there (to the Jews), and in the public square (to the Gentiles). He debated Epicurean and Stoic philosophers.
    • Those in the audience described his teachings as strange and provocative. They wanted to understand more.
    • So, Paul contextualized the Gospel, using their frames of reference and understanding to connect their erroneous world view to a Jesus-conforming understanding.
    • Many believed as a result.
  • Paul proceded to Corinth, where he stayed and worked with Aquila and Priscilla. The Jews there opposed him, so he focused his efforts on reaching the Gentiles.
  • Paul stayed there, preaching for a year and a half.
  • I love that Jesus told Paul in a vision, “Don’t be afraid! Speak out! For I am with you and no one will attack and harm you, for many people in this city belong to me.” I think that Jesus tells us the same thing now, and we need to heed his word and obey!
    • After this time, a new leader came into authority. The opposition brought new accusations against Paul to the governor. They lied that he was telling people worship God in ways that are illegal.
    • Interestingly, Gallio (the governor) wouldn’t hear the case because it was a religious, not civic, matter. As a result the crowd gave the synagogue leader a public beating.
Sosthenes’ plot, backfiring, 1st C. (colorized)
  • Paul stayed a bit longer, before departing for Cenchrea. Paul shaved his head, marking the end of a vow. Speculation is that it could be reflective of the Nazirite ceremony, perhaps giving thanks for the success of his Spirit-led travels and ministry advances. Regardless, the act is demonstrative of Paul’s ongoing fidelity to his Jewishness.
  • He proceeded back to Syria, bringing Priscilla and Aquila with him. They stopped at Ephesus, were his companions remained. He then went on to Caesarea, the Jerusalem, then returned to Antioch, for a time. Then he went back through the regions of Galatia and Phrygia. Paul was a man who obeyed the Spirit promptly and God faithfully kept him as a man in motion.
  • Here, we are introduced to Apollos, a believer originating from Alexandria, Egypt. He was a faithful preacher, but knew only about John’s baptism. Priscilla and Aquila heard his teaching in Ephesus, and Brough him up to speed. He was receptive to the Holy Spirit, and they commissioned him to continue in his good works.
  • Apollos’ experience is couched next to Paul’s similar experiences in Ephesus, where the distinction between the baptism of John and the baptism of the Holy Spirit if differentiated.
  • “Speaking in other tongues” is again referenced. There is no explicit reason to interpret this to mean “unknown” languages.
  • Paul preached in Ephesian synagogues for three months, and eventually met opposition. So Paul moved his efforts to the lecture hall. And he kept at it there for two years.
  • Commentary is offered here about Paul’s ability to perform “unusual” miracles. and then shares the anecdote of a local priest who tried to usurp the authority of Jesus bestowed to Paul. It didn’t end well for him, leaving him naked and afraid.
  • Making matters worse (for him) news of his failure went viral, but it only made the name of Jesus bigger (and more honored). Many who had been in dark pagan practices turned to Jesus.
  • Though the journey doesn’t officially close until tomorrow’s reading, the map below shows the totality of his second journey, with highlights, courtesy of conformtojesus.com (click link for larger map)

Immerse Day 7 Observations

More than 3500 people at  Scottsdale Bible Church are reading through the New Testament together over 8 weeks.

Text: Acts 6:1-13:5 (pp 70-82)

  • This reading opens with introducing us to Stephen, described as “full of God’s grace and power.” The miracles accomplished through him demonstrate both of these traits.
    • Men from the “Synagogue of Freed Men” began to debate Stephen. These were Greek Jewish men who had been slaves and were now free, or are descendants of people having this experience. Commentaries suggest that they were known for being more fanatical and regimented about their religious practices because of their exposure to other world views and religious systems, as compared to the norms of the indigenous Jewish believers.
    • In the context of debate, they “couldn’t stand” against Stephen’s insights and arguments. The Scripture is clear to point out that these Freedmen were really arguing (in futility) against the Spirit.
    • So, they employed lying as a tactic.
    • Interestingly, they accuse him of blaspheming not just God, but also Moses. This means that Moses was regarded as sacred, and they were interpreting anything that Stephen said that challenged their established views about him as blasphemous.
    • How tragic to be recorded in biblical history as “lying witnesses.”
    • These opponents made false statements about Stephen regarding Moses and Jesus. Ultimately, they lied about Jesus!
    • When pressed by the leaders, Stephen’s countenance reflected the glory of God and he eloquently responded.
      • He didn’t answer their question. He instead simply gave an oral recitation of Jewish history.
      • Using Abraham, Joseph, Moses and Joshua, and David as references, he made the case for Israel’s pattern of behavior of first rejecting (and even defying or opposing) God (and God’s prophets) before ultimately turning to him (and them).
        • Stephen showed them that their rejections had been faithfully judged by God, often at great consequence to the people of Israel.
        • He made it clear that God’s judgment against Israel for their sin was often to turn them over to their sin and to allow them to persevere in their rebellion.
        • He then issued a polemic that they not only killed the prophets who pointed to the Promised One, but that they also murdered the Messiah.
      • They responded, enraged. In this, I see God again turning them completely over to their sin, and even their subsequent conduct is their condemnable judgment against them.
      • Stephen saw the heavens open and Jesus receiving him.
      • His declaration inflamed them further. They took him out of the city, and began to stone him.
      • Stephen’s last recorded words were an intercession forgiving his murderers.
  • A little out of order here, but the murdering accusers laid their coats at the feet of “a young man named Saul.”
    • I wanted to read this “laying of coats” as some sort of picture of their putting this at his feet in terms of authority. But the commentaries don’t suggest it.
    • Rather, their “taking off their coats” demonstrates that they were stripping off their robes to be more murder-y.
    • This was mob rule, unsanctioned violence illegal by the Roman standards that governed the Jewish people of Jerusalem.
    • Laying it Saul’s feet merely introduces him to the reader. That he approved this mayhem tells us much about him (along with what is still to follow).
      • Saul was a witness to this crime, and was in complete agreement with it.
  • Stephen’s martyrdom was a catalyst to a wave of persecution that scattered all the believers out of Jerusalem (except the Apostles).
    • Saul was a key contributor of this onslaught of ethnic cleansing. His purpose was to destroy the church, literally dragging men and women out of their homes and imprisoning them.
  • As believers dispersed through the region, they brought with them the Gospel of Jesus. They didn’t abandon, conceal, or compartmentalize their faith in Jesus.
    • The deacon Philip is exemplified, preaching and providing miracles in Samaria. His good words and deeds brought people great joy.
    • A local, self-proclaimed “great” sorcerer named Simon was amazed at what he beheld in Philip. He became a believer and was baptized. He is a super-interesting personality, in whom it could be inferred that he followed Philip not because of true belief, but more so out of a charlatan’s awe over the unexplainable feats that he witnessed being performed by Philip.
    • It was a big deal for Samaritans to come to belief in Jesus because of their historic, generational opposition to Israel. So the Apostles sent Peter and John there, where they prayed for the new followers to receive the Holy Spirit.
      • There is much discussion about this baptism of the Holy Spirit among the Samaritans. Some attribute it as a “Samaritan Pentecost” reflective of a development of the Gospel being extended to a new audience. It does appear to be communal in expression, at the revelation of teaching of the Holy Spirit by Peter and John.
      • The laying on of hands should be seen as descriptive, rather than prescriptive (since we see the Holy Spirit bestowed upon belief without the laying on of hands elsewhere in Scripture.)
    • Simon the sorcerer saw this take place and offered to buy the gift of the Holy Spirit from Peter and John.
To suggest Peter reacted strongly would be an understatement
  • Peter told him his heart wasn’t right for making such an offer and directed him to repent of his wickedness.
    • Simon’s offer is indicative of the magicians’ practice of exchanging trick secrets for payment.
    • Peter diagnoses Simon’s offer as an expression not of awe, reverence, or devotion to God, but of bitter jealousy and being gripped by sin.
    • Simon asks for prayer for him, but we don’t get indication that he himself prayed. We don’t hear from him again in Scripture (and history’s accounts are not inclining toward an interpretation of repentance.
  • Attention returns to Philip, being instructed by an angel to leave the good work being accomplished in Samaria to a dirt road. Philip obeys.
    • On this route, he encounters a prominent Ethiopian eunuch, a treasurer in the court of Ethiopian queen Kandake.
      • He had come to Jerusalem to worship, and was returning home.
      • As Philip encountered him, the Ethiopian was reading out loud from the scroll of Isaiah.
      • Philip offered to help him, and the Ethiopian welcomes his assistance.
      • Using the Isaiah scripture as reference, Philip begins teaching him Jesus and sharing the Gospel with him.
        • This exchange confronted virtually every taboo of the day that would have existed as ample reason for the conversation never to happen:
          • racial, social, ethnic, economic, and what we might identify today as gender identity (or perhaps divergent sexual ethics).
          • understated point: yet, these two people saw in the other humanity and a divine appointment. That was enough (and bigger than any human-constructed barrier that otherwise would have prohibited their interaction).
          • The result of this conversation was belief! (reflected in the Ethiopian’s interest in baptism, and Philip’s inclination to proceed with it).
        • The baptism itself should be viewed as prescriptive, rather than merely descriptive.
          • It follows the patterns established elsewhere in Scripture, namely:
            • belief preceding baptism
            • going down into the water, coming up out of the water.
            • a mode of baptism representative of the meaning of the word baptism, that is, “to immerse.”
I suspect Philip’s baptism of the Ethiopian was less aggressive.
  • As the Ethiopian emerged from the water, Philip had been taken away by an angel to northern locations (where he continued to advance the Gospel). The Ethiopian himself returned to the queen, where he is largely credited with bringing Christianity to Northern Africa.
  • The narrative returns to Saul, who is reported to have an eagerness to kill the Lord’s followers (and uttering threats left and right)
  • He receives permission from the high priest in Jerusalem to take his pogrom to Damascus, where he could root out more Jesus followers to be imprisoned back in Jerusalem. He was given the permission and he embarked.
  • Along the way, he was struck by a bright light that knocked him off his feet, asking “why are you persecuting me?”
    • Paul asked who had confronted him.
    • The voice replied, “I am Jesus, the one you are persecuting.”
    • Interestingly, in the next breath, Jesus gave him a command to follow. And he would.
    • understated point: Jesus is Lord, and his authority is objective reality.
    • Saul was escorted into the city by his companions (who heard but didn’t see Jesus).
    • Saul remained blinded for three days, and didn’t eat.
    • I’m assuming Saul had a lot of time to reflect and consider what transpired.
  • As Saul was waiting, Jesus brought a vision to a Damascus believer Ananias (not the same Ananias from earlier, you know the lying-and-now-dead one).
    • Jesus instructed Ananias to go to Saul and revealed he had been sent by Jesus, and to lay hands upon him and return sight to him.
    • Jesus revealed that Saul was his chosen instrument to take the Gospel to the Gentiles and that he would suffer for the name of Jesus.
    • Ananias obeyed, despite his fears over what he had heard about Saul.
    • Ananias brought sight back to Saul.
    • Saul was baptized, and for the first time in days, ate.
  • Saul remained in Damascus, and within a few days, began preaching Jesus in the synagogues. All who heard him:
whaaaa….
  • Amazement soon turned to murder plots, because they couldn’t refute Saul’s evidence that Jesus is Messiah.
  • Saul escaped the murder plot by being lowered out of the city in a basket by dark of night, where he then traveled to Jerusalem.
  • At first, the believers were afraid of him, but Barnabas vouched for him, and upon their respect and trust for him, allowed Saul into their company.
  • Saul stayed with the Apostles, and preached all over Jerusalem. He debated some Greek Jews, and guess what? Yep, they wanted to kill him.
  • At this news, the Apostles sent Saul to Tarsus, his home town.
meanwhile…
  • Peter healed a paralytic in Lydda, which led many to believe in Jesus.
  • Then, he went to Joppa, where he raised Dorcas/Tabitha from the dead. Again, many came to faith.
  • In Caesarea, God brought Peter together with Cornelius (and his family). Cornelius is explicitly described as a devout man, whose actions demonstrated his authentic faith (as compared to ineffectually trying to manufacture faith).
    • As Cornelius’ party was approaching Peter, Peter had a vision (repeated multiple times) that showed Peter that he could no longer call “unclean” the things God had made (and, accordingly, were clean). This was a new revelation for Peter and challenged his traditional appreciation of different things (namely food, but also people, places, circumstances, etc).
    • Peter went with Cornelius’ crew to his house in Caesarea, where the Apostle was received with generous hospitality.
    • This opportunity was Peter’s first opportunity to apply the vision God had given him to his ministry (Such meetings in the past were forbidden).
    • There, Peter preached the Gospel, explaining that God’s salvation in Jesus is available to all people, not just the Jews.
    • The Holy Spirit fell upon Cornelius and his household. Now…we have seen God’s Holy Spirit gifted to Jew, Samaritan, and now Gentile. Cornelius and his household were baptized, to no objection. Peter remained in his home for days afterward.
  • When Peter returned, the Jewish believers criticized him for his ministry to the Gentiles. So he recapped for them the events. Their criticism quickly turned to praise.
  • Focus shifts to the broader advance of the Gospel. Other disciples shared with Gentiles, too. Barnabas went to Antioch, where he enjoyed great success. He went to Tarsus and brought Saul back with him to Antioch. They stayed there a year (and there the term “Christian” was coined).
    • It was also in Antioch where the Jerusalem drought was prophesied and it was determined to take up a collection for the Jerusalem congregation to meet the needs as a result of it.
  • In passing detail, readers are informed that Herod Agrippa ramped up his persecution, killing John’s brother James and imprisoning Peter. On the night before Peter’s trial, he was miraculously delivered from prison by angelic escort.
  • No small detail: Herod put to death the guards who weren’t able to subdue God’s angel guarding and guiding Peter.
  • Then, this reading closes with Herod receiving the praise of people of having godlike status, which he was proud to receive.
  • So God struck him with a disease, he was consumed by worms, and died.
  • But the word of God spread, and people get getting saved.

Immerse Day 6 Observations

More than 3500 people at  Scottsdale Bible Church are reading through the New Testament together over 8 weeks.

Text: Acts 1:1 – 7:1 (pp. 61-70)

Overview: Moving from part 1 of Luke’s letter to Theophilus to part 2, we transition from the life, ministry, death, burial, and resurrection of Jesus to (briefly) the post-resurrection activities of Jesus and the impartation of the Holy Spirit upon Christ’s followers (which is the birth of the Church).

Observations:

  • The book opens with Luke recapping for Theophilus the events that were recounted in the letter that we know as the Gospel of Luke.
  • understated point: Jesus walked among the population for 40 days after his resurrection, using many ways to prove that he was alive.
  • One time while eating with them (something a person who is alive does), Jesus told them not to leave Jerusalem, because God would soon be sending them the Holy Spirit (as a gift…not a reward. This is a blessing of grace, not a payment for labor).
  • He told them they would be baptized by the Holy Spirt….literally, immersed in the Holy Spirit. This was not a symbolic or ritual, this was a new experience where they would be spiritually “quickened” through their impending, immersive relational existence within the ongoing presence of God’s Spirit.
  • The Apostles were still fixated on an earthly vision – they were looking to this resurrected Jesus to help them overthrow their Roman occupiers. They asked if the time had come for them to free Israel and “restore our Kingdom?”
  • Question – Did the disciples really appreciate Jesus’ resurrection? They witnessed his tortuous death. They had no doubt about it. They also were experiencing him first-hand resurrected. But they were still processing all these events in the scope of their cultural tensions, pressures and interests. To maintain or persist in this perspective, they had to disregard all the teachings Jesus had given…even his initial call that they would be “fishers of men,” not “overthrowers of governments.”
  • Jesus’ non-answer answer: Only God sets the dates and times, and they aren’t for you to know. Then…one of my favorite passages in Scripture…Jesus answers the question they aren’t asking, saying, “You will receive power when the Holy Spirit comes upon you. And you will be my witnesses, telling people about me everywhere.”
    • you will receive power – up to now, they’ve been walking in the shadow of Jesus’ power. They’ve been using the power he had delegated or given them. Now, though, they’d be experiencing a new source of power. This also highlights that, on their own, they’d be without power.
    • when the Holy Spirit comes upon you – Jesus returns their attention to what he had been talking about (our human nature regularly takes what God is directing us to and turns it to the things that interest us). Jesus is reiterating that the Holy Spirit will come upon them, and they will experience unprecedented power as a result.
    • and you will be my witnesses, telling people about me everywhere – the proper use of this power is not to throw out occupying governments, but to tell people everywhere about Jesus. Jesus’ agenda (Kingdom) is bigger than Israel (and certainly, Jerusalem, or Judea, or even Samaria…even to the ends of the earth).
  • After saying this, Jesus ascended to heaven. The disciples watched, amazed, until he disappeared.
well, there’s something that’s never happened before.
  • Two angels said to them that Jesus has been taken to heaven, but he will return the same way you saw him go.
  • The Apostles returned to Jerusalem and returned to the upper room where they had been meeting. Roll call (showing us that everyone except for Judas was still present).
    • Note that several women were present, including Mary, the mother of Jesus. She had been there from the beginning and her inclusion here is a testament to her faith in God and her belief in what God had revealed to her about her son.
    • Also present were Jesus brothers. First, don’t miss that Jesus had brothers. Mary had other kids with Joseph. So technically, half-brothers. But close kin nonetheless. Family. And this was family that formerly didn’t believe in (or follow) Jesus, but now were found in the community of believers.
  • Peter takes the initiative to replace Judas (noting that Judas’ death fulfilled prophecy), and that he needs to be replaced.
    • Criteria for replacing Judas are given: someone who had been there from the beginning, a witness to everything that had happened.
    • Two finalists – Matthias and Joseph (aka Barsabbas aka Justus; he had multiple known monikers/nicknames – Barsabbas means “son of the Sabbath, perhaps indicating his love for worship; “Justus” was a gentile nickname or equivalency of his Hebrew name).
    • They prayed. Then they cast lots. And Matthias was selected. The best I understand this is that in praying, they believed that either man would have been appropriate or fitting, and that whoever was indicated on the lot that was first chosen was determined by God, and reflective of his choosing.
    • Interestingly, little is mentioned of either of these men after this event.
  • Pentecost had arrived (50 days after the 2nd day of Passover). Coincides with the Jewish Festival of Weeks (Shavuot), which as a harvest festival commemorates the giving of the Torah.
    • All the believers were still meeting together in a single place.
    • Inference is, here, that they were continuing in the traditions of their faith
  • Suddenly, the Holy Spirit arrived, as a roaring wind from heaven, filling the house where they were (immersed, baptized, if you will).
    • What looked like flames or tongues of fire settled upon each of them.
    • Each of them was filled with Holy Spirit.
    • The first expression of the Holy Spirit’s filling was that they could speak in “other languages.”
  • “Devout Jews from every nation” were living in Jerusalem, and were drawn to witness the loud noise they had heard. They were bewildered to hear their own languages spoken by the believers.
    • the languages spoken were known languages. They were not indiscernible.
    • The foreign Jews were amazed that the Galileans were speaking in their native languages.
    • They attributed this feat to God, and asked each other what it could mean.
    • When skeptics tried to dismiss it all as public drunkenness among the followers of Jesus, Peter stepped up and spoke out.
      • It was only 9 AM, these people weren’t drunk.
      • This was a fulfillment of prophecy from Joel.
      • He issues the clarion call, “whoever calls on the name of the Lord will be saved!”
      • understated points: Peter did, in fact, receive the Holy Spirit’s power, as promised. The power of the Holy gives people their voice.
      • He points people specifically to Jesus, and shows God’s handiwork in the details of Jesus’ betrayal.
      • He unabashedly indicts all the Jewish people in their complicity in the Jesus’ murder and tells them that death cannot contain or impede Jesus (again connecting David’s prophecies to Jesus).
      • Peter preached Jesus resurrected and ascended, then testifies that it is God’s Holy Spirit poured out upon the believers as the crowd has seen and heard, thus articulating the reasonable conclusion that Jesus is both Lord and Messiah.
  • God empowered Peter’s message to have effect. It pierced hearts and they asked what to do in response.
    • Peter instructed them to repent and be baptized and to turn to Jesus.
      • This instruction illustrates that repentance isn’t just “turning away” from sin and self, it is also “turning to” Jesus alone.
    • Peter says if they do this, they, too, will receive the Holy Spirit.
    • Peter continued to preach, to great affect – about 3000 people responded to the message that day.
remember that time that Marvel stole from the Bible?
  • This massive, sudden growth of the community of faith is the birth of the Church.
    • These people are marked, set apart by their common belief in Jesus as Lord and Messiah, and their unity in the experience of being baptized in the Holy Spirit.
    • This community immediately began activities that drew them close together and set the template for the Kingdom of God going forward:
      • They devoted themselves to the Apostles teaching – They submitted themselves to the teachings of this revelatory spiritual experience, no longer content to subject themselves to the religion and empty traditions of their past generations.
      • They committed to fellowship (living in community with each other – they didn’t compartmentalize their faith to one small aspect of their life…their faith gave definition to every other aspect of life)
      • They met together and shared everything. They had a shared identity, and selflessness was a prevailing principle.
      • They sold their property and possessions and shared the money with those in need. These are principles that Jesus had taught while living, and with the power of the Holy Spirit, their attention was to sacrificially love and support one another rather than simply look to their own interests.
      • They worshipped together in the Temple. They didn’t abandon their faith….in fact, they continued in it, now with new, fulfilled meaning.
      • They met in their homes for the Lord’s Supper. They remembered the words, teaching, and promises of Jesus, and kept him at the forefront of their faith activities.
      • They shared their meals with great joy and generosity – Their attitude was defined by the presence of God’s Holy Spirit.
      • They praised God and enjoyed the goodwill of the people and each day the Lord added to their fellowship those who were being saved. People flock to life, and God is actively in the business of rescuing people from death and transporting them into life (life that is experienced in the context of those who are spiritually alive in the Kingdom of God)!
  • On their way to the Temple for prayer, Peter and John were engaged by a paralytic who was begging for money.
    • Peter didn’t have money for him, but instead provided him with healing.
    • The man immediately was healed (from an infirmity that had hindered him since birth).
    • He jumped up, and praising God, entered the Temple with them.
      • For his entire life, he had been relegated to the outside of the Temple, and reduced to begging.
      • His first act of wellness was to enter the Temple to worship!
    • These events created a clamor, and Peter used it to preach Jesus.
    • He reminded them who Jesus was (and their role in putting him to death), and Jesus’ power to overcome that death
    • That same power was the applied to the infirmity of the man, and he was healed.
    • Then he issued a call to repentance, giving references to Samuel and Abraham.
    • Peter and John were confronted by the chief priests, the Temple guard captain and Sadducees for their message, and they were arrested and held overnight.
    • Total count of followers was more than 5000 men…the congregation was huge.
  • The Jewish religious leaders all met the next morning and confronted Peter and John and questioned their power/authority.
    • Peter…filled by the Holy Spirit…reminded them that they were being questioned for performing a miraculous work…a good work.
    • Then he proclaimed Jesus as the source of his good work.
    • He glorified Jesus as the only source for human salvation.
      • God’s Holy Spirit was giving focus and clarity to Peter in the articulation of the Gospel.
    • The response of the religious authorities was amazement.
      • These men were ordinary and without special training.
      • But they had been with Jesus.
      • And the evidence of the healed man was undeniable.
      • After a private conference, they called the disciples back in and forbade them to speak of the name of Jesus.
Peter, in reply to the edict
  • This was an easy call for the disciples, who had no fear in disobeying man in deference to obeying God.
    • They said, “We can’t stop telling about everything we have seen and heard.”
    • understated point: we should be of this same orientation, where we can’t stop telling about everything we have seen and heard.
  • Ultimately, despite further threats, they let them go because they couldn’t punish them further without starting a riot, due to the widespread positive report of the healing of a man who had been crippled for more than 40 years!
  • Peter and John returned to the other believers and reported on the events.
    • The believers’ response was to pray.
    • They rhavecalled prophecies of David, and saw them fulfilled in Jesus.
    • They asked God for boldness and power to continue to be faithful.
    • God’s answer to prayer was a fresh indwelling of the Holy Spirit.
    • understated points:
      • God often answers prayer with a fresh provision of himself.
      • These aren’t second anointing, but replenishment (of sorts).
      • it isn’t a matter of God’s spirit depleting in us, but more of a renewal of our awareness of and reliance upon his faithful indwelling spirit. (a lot to unpack here, to be sure)
  • The testimony recapitulates the selflessness, magnanimity, generosity, and unity prevalent within the Church community.
    • This is exemplified in the person Joseph (nicknamed Barnabas, meaning “son of encouragement”).
      • He was a Cyprian Levite. Atypically, he was a Levite who actually had land, which makes it even more provocative the he selflessly sold the land and gave the proceeds to the Apostles.
  • Barnabas’ practice is juxtaposed to that of Ananias and his wife Sapphira, who are indicted here for the crime of lying to the Holy Spirit. They, too, sold some property, but lied about the proceeds and wittheld some of the money. They also lied to the Apostles, but the indictment is for a crime against God.
    • Peter makes the point that the land was theirs to keep or sell…there had been no pressure for them to sell it. Likewise, they could have kept all the money for themselves. The crime was against God because they took the initiative to do these.things but misreport the result and withhold some of the blessing. Ultimately, stealing the money was a representation of the larger crime of attempted theft of God’s glory. Peter said, “you lied to God.”
    • Ananias immediately fell dead.
    • Three hours later, Sapphira was brought in, and (ignorant of her husband’s death), she perpetuated the lie, repeated the offense.
    • Again, Peter re-framed the offense as a conspiracy against the Holy Spirit, and she, too, fell dead.
    • As a result, great fear gripped the church and all who heard
      • this reminded me of an adage: “fear as a byproduct of faith is a tool fit for constructing a right framework of devotion, while fear as a byproduct of doubt is tool useful only in constructing idols.
  • The ministry flourished, miracles abounded, people were healed. Teaching continued. Salvations accumulated.
  • Even as people were freed from evil, the high priest his officials were filled with jealousy. They jailed the Apostles at night. An angel freed them before daybreak.
  • The Apostles obeyed the angel and proceeded to teach in the Temple the next morning, where they were re-arrested. They were not trying to hide from or even avoid the Jewish authorities. Their accusations:
    • You are teaching what we forbade you from teaching.
    • You are holding us responsible for his death.
  • The Apostles’ reply:
But did we obey God?
  • They affirmed they obeyed God rather than men.
  • Their testimony was true. Their assignment of guilt was accurate.
  • Their witness is affirmed by the Holy Spirit – who is given by God to those who obey him.
    • This incited the high priests…they were ready to kill the Apostles.
    • A respected leader amongst them Gameliel spoke, and told them
How ’bout we consider something less…murder-y?
  • Gameliel reminded them of earlier revolutionaries whose followings fizzled out, and advised to let this play out, too.
    • If it isn’t of God, the movement will fade.
    • If it is of God, though…watch out. Not only will it not fade, but you may find yourself fighting God!
    • They accepted this…but still had the apostles flogged.
    • The Apostles left the temple….PRAISING GOD…that God found them worthy of suffering disgrace for the name of Jesus. And they kept teaching every day.
    • While I’m inclined to think people are “soft” today, it could be that I feel this way because we don’t face this risk in my context.
  • This segment closes with an account that as the congregation rapidly grew, a complaint arose that the Greek-speaking widows were being discriminated against in deference to the Hebrew-speaking widows.
    • The Apostles, recognizing that this conflict (while important) was a distraction from their primary responsibility to teach the Word, convened and determined to appoint 7 respected, wise, Spirit-filled men to address this need and the emerging practical ministry challenges.
    • These men were the first deacons.
obligatory Deacon photo (portraying 1st century widow)
  • They were effective, for the final statement here is direct: The number of believers greatly grew in Jerusalem, and many of the Jewish priests were converted, too.
  • Understated points: God’s Word not only confronts and changes the irreligious, but it also impacts those who are familiar with faith. God convicts and saves whoever he wants. NOBODY is beyond the reach of his gracious message of love and relationship.